The File Contains the ICAR Newsletter, December 2011
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ICARDecember Newsletter 2011 for Animal Recording International Committee Via G. Tomassetti 3, 1/A 00161 Rome, Italy Page 2 Content A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT ............................3 STRATEGIC PLAN ...............................................3 REVISION OF GUIDELINES................................... 4 COOPERATION WITH EU..................................... 4 Animal identification ...........................................................................4 ICAR in the EU project in Turkey .....................................................4 CERTIFICATE OF QUALITY ...................................5 MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD ...................5 Revision of ICAR Statutes and internal regulations ....................5 NEW MEMBERS OF SUB-COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS .................................5 THE 38th BIENNIAL SESSION ................................ 6 Call for papers........................................................................................ 7 THE FAO/ICAR/FEPALE WORKSHOP ON ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION (5-7 DECEMBER 2011, SANTIAGO DE CHILE) .......7 THE 1ST ICAR WORKSHOP ON CASHMERE GOAT PRODUCTION BY LORO PIANA SPA 24-25 OCTOBER 2011, CHANGCHUN JILIN PROVINCE (CHINA) ............8 EAAP-ICAR JOINT SESSION, STAVANGER (NORWAY) ................................. 9 December 2011 SECRETARIAT’S CONTACTS .................................. 9 ICAR Newsletter Contact info: ICAR Secretariat Via Giuseppe Tomassetti 3, 1/A 00161 Rome, Italy E-mail: [email protected] ICAR Newsletter, December 2011 Page 3 A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT The feed back received from majority of participants at the General Assembly and the technical workshop held in Bourg-en-Bresse, France, in June this year, has confirmed their satisfaction with quality of the program, relevance of themes discussed and with excellent organization and hospitality offered by our French colleagues. This event has been followed by intensive activity of all ICAR governing and technical bodies. The Executive Board held two meetings and consultations focusing on the preparation of Strategic Plan for 2012-14, revision of ICAR Guidelines, internal regulations and new system of membership fees. All sub-committees and majority of working groups approved their programs of future activities focusing on adjustments to new developments in science, technology and agricultural policies, in particular to the impact of genomic evaluation, growing global interest for animal identification and to new policy requirements at national and regional levels. The rich and well prepared program for the 38th ICAR Biennial Session in May- June 2012 in Cork, Ireland will be an excellent opportunity for ICAR and its technical bodies to A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT ............................3 evaluate past activities, review technology developments and trends and develop future strategies and programs. ICAR membership has increased to 86 members with a good potential for further STRATEGIC PLAN ...............................................3 expansion in 2012, particularly in Latin America and Asia. Constructive and mutually beneficial REVISION OF GUIDELINES................................... 4 cooperation with our international partners, particularly with IDF, ISO, FAO and the European COOPERATION WITH EU..................................... 4 Commission has continued. Animal identification ...........................................................................4 ICAR in the EU project in Turkey .....................................................4 This fourth and the last Newsletter in 2011 is also an opportunity to express to our Members, to their employees and to their clients Season Greetings and best wishes for success in 2012. CERTIFICATE OF QUALITY ...................................5 MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD ...................5 Revision of ICAR Statutes and internal regulations ....................5 NEW MEMBERS OF SUB-COMMITTEES STRATEGIC PLAN AND WORKING GROUPS .................................5 The Executive Board at its meeting held in Rome, Italy, on 17 and 18 November agreed to propose THE 38th BIENNIAL SESSION ................................ 6 to the ICAR Board elements for the approval as strategic goals to be attained in 2012-2014 period. Call for papers........................................................................................ 7 These are: THE FAO/ICAR/FEPALE WORKSHOP ON ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION • Governance and finance (5-7 DECEMBER 2011, SANTIAGO DE CHILE) .......7 - Develop robust ICAR strategy THE 1ST ICAR WORKSHOP ON CASHMERE GOAT - Risk management PRODUCTION BY LORO PIANA SPA - Ensure organizational structural capacity 24-25 OCTOBER 2011, - Ensure resources to carry out delivering strategy CHANGCHUN JILIN PROVINCE (CHINA) ............8 EAAP-ICAR JOINT SESSION, • Technical studies and guidelines STAVANGER (NORWAY) ................................. 9 - Maintain and up-date relevant technical standards and guidelines SECRETARIAT’S CONTACTS .................................. 9 - Cover all fields of data recording and focus non o Functional traits o Welfare and transport o Greenhouse gases and environmental impact o Genomics evaluation • Communication - Improve international industry communications - Delivery of Guidelines - Dissemination of information on relevant activities worldwide - Improve interaction and communication with key stakeholders Page 4 Although the final draft will be officially presented to Members for comments prior to the submission to the General Assembly, readers of this Newsletter are invited to comment the presented draft and send their suggestions to the ICAR Secretariat. REVISION OF GUIDELINES Dynamic developments in science and technologies (e.g. automated milking, on-line analyses, use of genomics in evaluation) new requirements of markets (e.g. quality of services to clients, reducing costs of animal production) have been reflected in adding new sections and a number of changes and amendments in guidelines approved in Interlaken and following updatings, particularly in sections under responsibilities of Sub-Committees. During the current decade, ICAR guidelines have grown in volume and content, sometimes with overlapping and without clear concept and understanding of their purpose. For this reason, the Executive Board at its meeting held in November 2011 requested the Secretariat to proceed with preparations for the general revision of ICAR Guidelines and provide support to Sub-Committees and Working Groups in carrying out their duties in accordance with their respective terms of reference. COOPERATION WITH EU Animal identification Mr. Sergio Pavon, the new officer for zoo-technical legislation in the EU, visited ICAR offices in October this year. He discussed with representatives of ICAR (Andrea Rosati and Kaivo Ilves) with Pieter Hogewerf (representing IMA-Wageningen Laboratory), about legislation related to animal identification. ICAR representatives were informed about EU plans to have electronic cattle identification on a voluntary base all through Europe. ICAR was asked information for creating a sound technical legislation. The need for continuation of the EU financial support to INTERBULL, particularly in view of the fact that activities related to genomic revolution are to be intensified, has been emphasized by the ICAR representatives. Mr. Pavon promised to do his best to defend ICAR requests. COPA-COGECA, an European lobbying union representing farmers, at its meeting in October 2011 noted that the new EU legislation will include the obligation of all Member States to accept RFID, but that individual states can make RFID compulsory. Copa Cogeca requested the Commission to consult ICAR once the legislation has been defined. ICAR in the EU project in Turkey ICAR and the German Holstein Federation (DHV) are partners in the EU funded project of the Association of Turkish Cattle Breeders on development of advisory service for dairy farmers in the province of Aydin. ICAR will provide trainers for local advisors, speakers at the final projects conference and co-authors of a manual for advisors. A study tour organized by ADT Project included the attendance of a group of dairy farmers and professionals from the cattle breeder association from Aydin at the DHV cattle auction, participation at two workshops on cattle breeding and milk production and visit to the GEA Farm Technologies – the Associate Member of ICAR. ICAR Newsletter, December 2011 Page 5 CERTIFICATE OF QUALITY It is expected that current audit for ICAR Certificate of Quality in Israel and England would be completed shortly and that the new audit would start in Lithuania by the end of 2011. Certificates will be delivered in Cork on the occasion of the 38th Biennial Session. MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD In the period July – November the Executive Board held two meetings. Main subjects discussed were the assessment of developments and changes in livestock technologies, particularly the growing use of genomics in genetic evaluation and their impact on ICAR programs and activities, preparation of the strategic plan 2012-2014 and financial situation of the organization. Revision of ICAR Statutes and internal regulations The Executive Board in reviewing the ICAR legal documents noted that the some of provisions of the ICAR Statutes were outdated, such as those related to Special Stamp, and requested the Secretariat to prepare draft amendments to the Statutes for submission to the ICAR Board and the General Assembly for approval. The draft will be placed